Bill Daley forms exploratory committee

Former White House chief of staff Bill Daley is the latest Obama White House alum to set his sights on higher office in Illinois, announcing on Tuesday he’s forming an exploratory campaign to run for Illinois governor.

In a video announcement on his campaign website, Daley decries the mess in Springfield, Ill. The video shows pictures of Daley with President Barack Obama in the White House and borrows the administration message of “We Can’t Wait.”

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Daley would be challenging incumbent Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn in the Democratic primary. A November poll from Public Policy Polling had Quinn’s approval rate at just 25 percent, making him the least popular governor in the country according to PPP. That survey also found Daley would lead Quinn 37 percent to 34 percent in a head-to-head matchup.

Daley, the son of longtime Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley and brother of longtime former Mayor Richard M. Daley, succeeded current Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the White House as chief of staff. A banker and businessman, Bill Daley also served as secretary of commerce under President Bill Clinton.